THE ECHO

By Grace Otey // Reporter

Schools around the United States have implemented cellphone bans. These bans have been both all-day bans, like those in California and the instructional time bans like those in Indiana. Recently, the Indiana Legislature introduced a new bill—a bell-to-bell ban. This ban would prohibit access to phones, wireless earbuds, apple watches, and other electronic devices during school hours. This bill is a product of increased support nationally and pressure from the US Department of Education.

Pew Research asked US citizens their thoughts in 2025 and published the results.

41

This is the percentage of students who support cell phone bans during instructional time.

 Freshman Ami Singh agrees with this. He said he didn’t have a problem with current bans and even considers them an improvement.

“I mean, it’s gotten better,” Singh said. “If had my phone the whole day, I would probably be playing games.”

73

This is the percentage of students who oppose an all-day or “bell-to-bell” ban.

Junior Abnete Getahun said she agrees with these students. She doesn’t like the idea of an all-day ban because it poses safety issues.

“For safety purposes, I feel like you need your phone and there’s some situations that you would need your phone for.

44

This is the percentage of adults who want a “bell-to-bell” ban.

Freshman Adelie Small said that she doesn’t like the current phone ban or the idea of an all-day ban because of safety. She had thoughts on the adults who support the “bell-to-bell” ban.

“We need to look at the logistics, because a lot of schools in America have gone through school shootings and stuff, and if you have a higher number of calling in those reports, or calling an inner report of a threat, then they can act on it faster. And really, it is more helping us than it is putting us in danger of our education,” said Small.

74

This is the percentage of adults who agree with an instructional time ban.

Samson Bertram, sophomore, said that he, like these adults, didn’t really mind the current restrictions.

“I feel like the policy in place is decent. I feel that teachers should enforce it more often. Teachers will say, ‘No, phones in the classroom unless you want a detention,’ and the kids will still have their phones out, and they won’t say anything. I understand having your phone out, like during non-instructional time, like once you’re done with your work,” Bertram said.

Statistically speaking, instructional time bans have more backing than the bell-to-bell bans. This does not change the fact that Indiana is looking into the harsher ban, but it does beg a question as to whether it is right. Bertram had some thoughts about and for these legislators.

“They were raised at a very different time…the way that technology has advanced since then has been extremely rapid, and they were raised in a time where phones weren’t a problem,” Bertram said. “It is really difficult on us, for you, who was raised in an entirely different time period, to legislate how we interact and how we are able to contact and be safe and just live based off of a time that is entirely different technology wise.”